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Our New Drug Czar on Legalization: An Emphatic "No"

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Fri May 22, 2009 at 03:51:00 PM EST
Tags: drug law reform, war on drugs (all tags)
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Via Tom at Law Enforcement Against Prohibition: New drug czar Gil Kerlikowske was on KUOW radio today, talking about his new role.

He called the idea of legalization "waving the white flag" and said "legalization is off the the charts when it comes to discussion, from my viewpoint" and that "legalization vocabulary doesn't exist for me and it was made clear that it doesn't exist in President Obama's vocabulary."

Regarding marijuana, he said, "It's a dangerous drug" and, regarding its medical benefits, he said, "we will wait for evidence on whether smoked marijuana has any medicinal benefits - those aren't in." [More...]

Regarding interdiction efforts, he said, "eradication and the efforts that the United States has played in helping Plan Colombia have been viewed as successful."

He said the Seattle initiative that made marijuana arrests the lowest law enforcement priority"didn't make any difference" in the criminal justice system and that it was never a priority to arrest adults for personal possession of marijuana and that they've always had enough time and resources to deal with violent crime. Right...

On the fact that marjuana and drug policy questions overwhelmed the president's online town hall meeting a few weeks ago, he said,"the legalization debate and discussion has been around a long time. When it comes to an electronic town hall, there are people that can motivate lots of others and lots of sophistication to put a question forward. There are pretty sophisticated groups that are able to manipulate or use that sort of system."

As Tom notes, this is disconcerting, to say the least.

So, let's get this straight: No to legalization, medical pot hasn't been proven beneficial and all pot is dangerous. How is this change?

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    Our New Drug Czar on Legalization: An Emphatic "No" | 21 comments (21 topical)

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    "It's a dangerous drug..." (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by kdog on Fri May 22, 2009 at 01:57:35 PM EST
    Well, you're a dangerous man Kerlikowske, more of a threat to the well being of free people than reefer ever could be...can we prohibit your arse?

    Seems Seattle's gain was the (none / 0) (#7)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri May 22, 2009 at 02:48:18 PM EST
    country's loss.

    I didn't like him as police chief, either.

    Parent

    Q.: "How is this change?" (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by scribe on Fri May 22, 2009 at 02:01:25 PM EST
    A.:  The same way changing your undershirt every day is change.

    It's clean, and it feels great, but it's still a white, crew-necked t-shirt just like the one you had on yesterday, and just like the one you'll have on tomorrow.  Looks the same, feels the same, and is indistinguishable from any other.

    In so many words, the "Change" Obama sold is that kind of change.  A fresh t-shirt just like the one we just tossed in the hamper.

    Best analogy I've read i two years. (none / 0) (#16)
    by tokin librul on Fri May 22, 2009 at 03:55:12 PM EST
    Exactly right.

    Well said.

    Parent

    I will be quite blunt about this (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by scribe on Fri May 22, 2009 at 02:15:05 PM EST
    While I wholeheartedly agree that dope should be legalized and taxed, I also do not disagree with not doing it now.

    My reason has nothing to do with the senselessness or sensibility of prohibition.

    Rather, it has everything to do with "if the cops aren't loo